Detergent dispenser



APP?! 194% s. J. MILLER DETERGENT DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May15, 1940 INVENTOR.

BY ,1 W I-7 ATTORNEYS April 1943- s. J. MILLER DETERGENT DISPENSER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5. 1940 ATTORN Patented Apr. 27, 1943 im-f or Lmit-Kiln time 2.95% ahi'i' hi s it.

DETERGENT DESPENSEE Samuel ,1 *illiller, Cincinnati, Qhio, assignor toThe Du fiois Soap Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation @hio 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for providing and dispensing adetergent solution for a washing machine. It is directed particularly toa device adapted to be. used upon a dishwasher of the kind employed invhotels and restaurants.

In the use of machines of this general type the conventional procedureis to introduce, by hand, a quantity of cleanser into the water in whichthe dishes are to be washed. As a matter of .ical experience, however,it is usual that either too little of the detergent is used whichresults in ineffectual washing, or else too much, which leads toneedless expense, and, in some instances to an actual impairment of thecleansfunction.

The primary object of the present invention has been to provide a simpleand inexpensive apparatus which is capable'of dispensing a solution ofthe detergent in an amount substantially predetcr lined in accordancewith the quantity of water that is used, and therefore in accordancewith th: mount of dishwashing being done.

or object of the invention is to provide which is capable of furnishinga degent solution of substantially uniform concentration byprogressively dissolving it in water. in this regard the inventioncontemplates a device which is furnished with water and also furnishedwith a supply of dry detergent, for instance, in powdery or granularform. During the use of the device the water gradually and progressivelydissolves a portion of the detergent so as to yield a detergentsolution.

In a further respect the objective of the invention contemplates meansfor keeping the bulk of the body of the detergent material, except thatwhich is in the process of actually being dissolved, in a substantiallydry condition. This feature is a very desirable one since a detergentwhich has become wetted and then allowed to stand, for instance overnight during a period when the dishwasher is not in use, tends to forminto a hard cake which is relatively difiicult to dissolve the next timea supply of detergent solution is desired. For purposes of economy andparticularly for good dishwashing results, it is desirable that thestrength of the solution be as uniform as possible.

The invention is also directed to the objective of providing a unitarytype of dispenser adapted to be supported upon a dishwashing machine, e.g., upon the top of it, yet readily lifted away from the machine so thatboth can be cleaned conveniently.

A typical structure providing these desired results and other featuresis disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1- is a sectional elevation showing the relationship of thedispenser unit to the washing machinev and the dishes being cleansedwithin it.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the means forholding the dispenser in a predetermined. location upon the machinewithout interfering with the easy removal of it from the machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation through the dispenser device itself.

Figure 4 is a top plan View showing. the cover of. dispenser removed.

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view he line t-E of Figure 3.

he device which is shown in the drawings prily comprises a tank I, asupport 2 upon which the, tank is rested and a cover 3. The tank itselfpreferably made of a rustless type of metal, 101' instance, copper orbronze or stainless steel. s, in fact, desirable to make all of theparts or the structure of such a material so as to pr vent deteriorationof it.

The tank. is preferably of a circular formation is comprised of anannular wall =2: and a *2 a wall with the upper edge of the annular wallturned to provide a head a. The cap 3 fits over the bead shown in FigureThis construction of the tank s not requisite but is recommended becauseof its cheapness and simplicity.

Within the tank a detergent basket l is provided. 'lflliS element too ispreferably of an annular formation and is comprised of a side wall and ascreen, or better still a foraminous plate, iil a bottom member. A ringH3 having an annularly upstanding flange M fits around the Wall 5 of thebasket and, to support the center portion of the screen, the ring isprovided with a cent a spider comprising the arms 52 as shown Theannular member it is provided is extending from its lower portion e toelevate the bottom of the detergent from the bottom 5 of the tank. hering is provided, at intervals about its y, with bosses-which extendinwardly or" the wall G of the basket and these are bored to receiveclamp rods M which extend upwardly along the walls and through similarbosses proi in upper ring i5 which is provided with 11g annular flange55a for holding it in The is iiare headed, as at H5, at one end andthreaded to carry nuts I! at the other end, so that the two rings can bedrawn together to hold taken on the plate member 9 and the other partsof the basket in rigid assembly.

If desirable, a weight disc, illustrated in the dot and dash lines,Figure 3, may be provided to fit within the basket and rest upon the topof the detergent disposed therein to feed it downwardly as it dissolves.

The support member 2 upon which the tank rests is of a spider formationas shown in the dotted lines in Figure 4 and comprises theinterconnected arms I 8 upon which the bottom of the tank rests, andfeet I9 at the extremities of the arms. The feet extend slightly abovethe arms and maintain the location of the tank upon the support. Thefeet themselves elevate the bottom of the tank above the top of thewasher which is indicated generally at 20.

Adjacent the wall 4, at one portion of the bottom of the tank, there isan outlet opening 20a through which a pipe 2| passes. The pipe isprovided with a shoulder 22 which presses against a gasket 23 restingupon the bottom of the tank. Below the shoulder the pipe is providedwith a threaded portion 24 and an offtake portion 25 extends apredetermined distance above the bottom of the tank and also above thebottom member of the basket.

The pipe 2i is bored to provide a discharge outlet from the tank. Thelower threaded portion 24 of the pipe extends through a bore in athimble 26 which provides a skirt 2'! extending annularly about thedischarge outlet; A portion of the skirt of the thimble is cut away asat 29 adjacent the wall 4 of the tank, so as to enable the dischargefrom the tank through the outlet to be visible. The upper surface of thethimble also is provided with an upstanding arcuate flange 30 whichabuts the wall 4 of the tank and therefore holds the thimble in apredetermined position. A nut 3| cooperating with the shoulder 22 clampsthe thimble against the bottom of the tank.

For the installation of the device the top member 20 of the washer isbored as at 32 to receive the threaded shank 33 of a funnel 34. A nut 35carried upon the shank 33 holds the funnel in position. The funnelextends upwardly within the skirt 2! and is annularly surrounded by itexcept at the chordally cut away portion 29. In view of this arrangementthe dispenser apparatus can be lifted upwardly and lifted away from thetop of the washing machine when it is desired to clean the machine.During normal operation, the skirt of the thimble engages the funnel andtherefore maintains the location of the outlet from the tank adjacentthe inlet to the washing machine. This feature is of considerablepractical importance because the washing machine tends to vibrate duringits usage and the device, unless held in position, tends to walk acrossthe upper surface, thereby uselessly spilling its discharge over themachine. If the dispenser is clamped firmly in position it isinconvenient to remove it.

An inlet opening 36 is provided in the wall 4 of the tank I preferablyat a point approximately opposite the discharge outlet at a distancesomewhat above the bottom plate of the basket. A boss plate It! isclamped on the outside of the wall 4 of the tank around the opening 36and is provided with a connector boss 38 which is bored to receive acontrol valve assembly indicated generally at 39. The inlet to the tankmay reside adjacent the outlet, but with a bafiie in between the two toprevent short .circuiting of the flow of liquid.

The control valve comprises a body portion 40 which is boredlongitudinally to provide a valve seat 4|. Within the bore a threadedneedle member 42 is provided. The shank of this member is threaded foradjustment of the position of the needle relative to the valve seat; forthis purpose the upper end of the needle member is configurated toreceive a key 43.

The outer part of the valve body, at its upper end, is threaded toreceive a collar 44 which is configurated internally to provide a gland45 containing packing material 46. Connector portion 41 extends from thebody portion of the valve at a point adjacent the valve seat. Theconnector is threaded to engage the bosses 38 of the plate 31 and itextends internally of the tank 4 as at 41. The connector also is boredso as to communicate with the passageway surrounding the stem of themetal valve.

Below the seat the valve body terminates with an inlet portion 48 whichis bored to provide an inlet passageway 49 to the valve. A connector 50extends from the inlet portion 48 for the reception of copper tubing 51or the like through which a supply of water is furnished to thedispenser apparatus.

Operation of the device In the normal operation of the device a supplyof the detergent powder is introduced into the dissolving basket. Thisbasket in addition to the foraminous bottom contains a plurality ofapertures 52 located in its Wall 4. These inlets are located at a pointabove the bottom and preferably at a line slightly below the level ofthe outlet 25. The control valve preferably is of such size that it canadmit water at no greater rate than the outlet is capable ofdischarging, in order that water may not unintentionally collect in thetank above the outlet level 25.

The water contained in the tank seeps upwardly through the foraminousbottom and through the inlet apertures 52 in the wall of the basket anddissolves the chemical detergent which is located at this portion of thebasket. The solution which is thus formed permeates throughout theentire body of water contained within the tank. Thus, chemical detergentsolution of a. substantially uniform concentration is discharged throughthe nipple into the funnel 34 from which it proceeds to the washingchamber of the apparatus. In the normal operation, the level of theliquid in the tank is at the level of the discharge outlet.

The bulk of detergent material located within the basket above thedissolving area, which is delineated substantially by the apertures 52,remains in a substantially dry condition, and as the dissolutionproceeds dry chemical is fed down toward the dissolving area under itsown weight.

Figure 1 illustrates the use of the device in a typical washing machineprovided with a. spray head 53. The spray of water from this member isprojected against the dishes which are held in the basket 54. The funnel34 may be located relative to the sprayhead so that the detergentsolution dripping in it is caught within the spray and mixed with thewash water, or at any other point suitable for effecting admixture .ofthe detergent solution with the wash water.

In the installation of the unit, the tubing 5| is connected to the watersupply line 55 through which the rinse Water passes to the washingmachine. By virtue of this arrangement detergent is supplied to thewashing machine substantially in accordance with th amount of washingwhich is being done as determined by the flow of rinse water.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A device of the class described adapted to dispense detergentsolution to a funnel which device comprises a tank, a support forholding the tank in an elevated position, the tank having an outletskirt, the said skirt depending from the tank adjacent the outlet andadapted for loosely telescopically engaging a funnel whereby the tankmay be removably associated with the funnel, and may be separatedtherefrom by lifting of the tank, but with the skirt arranged to locatethe outlet of the tank in a predetermined position with respect to thefunnel when the skirt sur-- rounds the funnel.

2. A device of the class described which comprises a tank having anoutlet, a means for supporting the tank in an elevated position, anelement of tubular form depending from the tank about the outlet andhaving a portion cut away to enable the discharge from the outlet to beviewed as it passes through the tubular element,

the support for the tank being adapted to rest on the top of adish-washing machine and the tubular element being adapted to extendabout a funnel member extending through the top of the washing machinewhereby the tubular member maintains the outlet of the tank removably inposition above the funnel and whereby the tank may be lifted todissociate the device with the funnel without disturbing chemicalsdisposed within the tank.

3. A device of the class described which comprises a tank having aninlet, an outlet, a basket fitting within the tank and having a solidwall portion adjacent the inlet and having a foraminous bottom, thebottom of the basket being elevated above the bottom of the tank and adischarge pipe passing through the outlet and extending upwardly to alevel above the bottom of the basket, means for supporting the tank inan elevated position and means providing a skirt extending below thetank about the outlet, the said skirt being adapted to substantiallysurround a funnel extending through a surface upon which the supportmeans for the tank is mounted 4. A device of the class described whichco1nprises a tank having an inlet in a wall thereof and having an outletin its bottom member at a point substantially opposite the inlet, abasket fitting within the tank and having a solid wall portion adjacentthe inlet and having a foraminous bottom, the bottom of the basket beingelevated above the bottom of the tank and a discharge pipe passingthrough the outlet from the tank and extending upwardly to a level abovethe bottom of the basket, means for supporting the tank in an elevatedposition and means providing a skirt extending below the tank about theoutlet, the said skirt being adapted to substantially surround a funnelextending through a surface upon which the support means for the tank ismounted, the means providing the said skirt having a portion cut awayfor visibility of the discharge from the tank as it passes through theskirt.

5. A dispenser of the type described for feeding a detergent solution toa funnel on a washing machine, which device comprises a tank having anoutlet pipe, a support for holding th tank in elevated position, a skirtmember surrounding the outlet pipe depending from the tank, said skirtmember being sufficiently large to adapt it to be slipped telescopicallyover the funnel member to which it is to feed detergent solution, thesaid skirt member also having a portion cut away in order to permitdetergent solution being discharged from said funnel member to beviewed.

SAMUEL J. lVflLLER.

